MCKINLEY LIBRARY PETITION PS63 & PS363
MCKINLEY LIBRARY PETITION PS63 & PS363
The Issue
Dear Sir/Madam:
We are concerned parents, friends, and neighbors of STAR Academy (P.S. 63) and The Neighborhood School (P.S. 363). STAR Academy and The Neighborhood School share a building and our wonderful school librarian, Cheryl Wolf, but her future is a stake. We need the Department of Education and the Chancellor’s help in resolving an issue of inequity affecting literacy resources for STAR Academy students due to budgetary constraints.
In June 2018, budget issues forced STAR Academy (a Title 1 school) to make hard choices. Increased school enrollment and the UFT-mandated maximum classroom size required STAR Academy to hire an additional 3rd grade teacher. One of the cuts was to excess STAR Academy’s portion of Cheryl’s salary. Both schools have equally contributed to the librarian’s salary since 2004. The McKinley library has been a model of partnership for 15 years, providing a learning space for children from both schools to interact daily. Over the years Cheryl developed a robust program that emphasizes love of reading, inquiry and research, and citizenship. The cuts threaten to deprive all our students the opportunity to instill the habit and love of reading, digital literacy, and research skills, all of which have been proven to contribute to academic success.
If Cheryl’s salary is not reinstated in the STAR Academy budget she will be forced to work elsewhere 50% of the time next year. We cannot in good conscience allow that half of the students in the building benefit from the wonderful work Cheryl has to offer while students at STAR Academy are left without it. This troubling and unequal treatment of children from the two different schools conflicts with the Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence For All initiative. All children in our building deserve equal access to the complete instructional program.
We, the undersigned, insist that the Chancellor prioritize funds for our librarian’s salary. Do not make our principals choose between teachers, students and supporting the love of reading in our schools. We are asking for a five-year commitment of $45,000 per annum to the Star Academy school budget to enable their principal to include the professional librarian’s salary.
SIGNED,
PARENTS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF BOTH STAR ACADEMY & THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL
The Issue
Dear Sir/Madam:
We are concerned parents, friends, and neighbors of STAR Academy (P.S. 63) and The Neighborhood School (P.S. 363). STAR Academy and The Neighborhood School share a building and our wonderful school librarian, Cheryl Wolf, but her future is a stake. We need the Department of Education and the Chancellor’s help in resolving an issue of inequity affecting literacy resources for STAR Academy students due to budgetary constraints.
In June 2018, budget issues forced STAR Academy (a Title 1 school) to make hard choices. Increased school enrollment and the UFT-mandated maximum classroom size required STAR Academy to hire an additional 3rd grade teacher. One of the cuts was to excess STAR Academy’s portion of Cheryl’s salary. Both schools have equally contributed to the librarian’s salary since 2004. The McKinley library has been a model of partnership for 15 years, providing a learning space for children from both schools to interact daily. Over the years Cheryl developed a robust program that emphasizes love of reading, inquiry and research, and citizenship. The cuts threaten to deprive all our students the opportunity to instill the habit and love of reading, digital literacy, and research skills, all of which have been proven to contribute to academic success.
If Cheryl’s salary is not reinstated in the STAR Academy budget she will be forced to work elsewhere 50% of the time next year. We cannot in good conscience allow that half of the students in the building benefit from the wonderful work Cheryl has to offer while students at STAR Academy are left without it. This troubling and unequal treatment of children from the two different schools conflicts with the Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence For All initiative. All children in our building deserve equal access to the complete instructional program.
We, the undersigned, insist that the Chancellor prioritize funds for our librarian’s salary. Do not make our principals choose between teachers, students and supporting the love of reading in our schools. We are asking for a five-year commitment of $45,000 per annum to the Star Academy school budget to enable their principal to include the professional librarian’s salary.
SIGNED,
PARENTS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF BOTH STAR ACADEMY & THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL
Victory
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on April 15, 2019